Nutritive value and mycotoxin contamination of herbage in mountain locality exposed to renewed cattle grazing

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the forage quality and mycotoxin contamination in the locality of Švycarna (1304 m a.s.l.), where the cattle grazing after the long- Term management cessation was introduced on the pasture area of 3.6 ha in 2012. The pasture was divided into two grazing plots: P1 (Nar) (dominance of Nardus stricta) and P2 (Des) (dominance of Deschampsia cespitosa). Samples of forage were taken in June, July, August and September 2014 and 2015 from five permanent plots situated in diff erent places of locality. Samples were analysed on the content of basic nutrients and macroand micro- elements. Further, the content of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA) and T-2/ HT-2 toxin was determined using ELISA method. From June to September the mean content of crude fibre significantly (P < 0.05) increased (from 243.9 g.kg-1 DM to 331.7 g.kg-1 DM, respectively) and the content of crude protein significantly (P < 0.05) decreased (from 166.9 g.kg-1DM to 89.2 g.kg-1 DM, respectively). Mean concentration of DON in P1 (Nar) was numerically higher than in P2 (Des), being 715 and 620.63 μg.kg-1, respectively (P < 0.05). Mean concentration of T-2/HT-2 toxin was 44.88 and 55.04 μg.kg-1 in P1 (Nar) and P2 (Des), respectively. The content of ZEA in P1 (Nar) of 54.65 μg.kg-1 was lower than in P2 (Des) being 78.72 μg.kg-1 (P < 0.05).